ESPN's way-too-early SEC Power Rankings for 2017
Will 2017 be any different than 2016 in the SEC? Can anyone catch Alabama?
It will certainly be interesting to watch.
The conference as a whole will need to step up its game, as the ACC and the Big Ten both seem to be getting stronger. One position that can certainly help the perception is quarterback, and the SEC is returning several of them with experience. More game-changing players from the position will help the conference in many ways.
Another scenario we’ll be interested to watch play out is the SEC West vs. East, strength-wise. The West certainly has dominated in recent history — Alabama has a lot to do with that, but the East will have to have a revival at some point, right? I think we’re a year away from making that case.
ESPN recently took a stab at their way-too-early SEC power rankings:
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
2. Auburn Tigers
3. LSU Tigers
4. Georgia Bulldogs
5. Florida Gators
6. Tennessee Volunteers
7. Texas A&M Aggies
8. Arkansas Razorbacks
9. Ole Miss Rebels
10. Kentucky Wildcats
11. South Carolina Gamecocks
12. Mississippi State Bulldogs
13. Vanderbilt Commodores
14. Missouri Tigers
Few Takeaways:
- ESPN sees the SEC West flexing its muscles once again, with Alabama, Auburn and LSU as the top three teams. Obviously, Alabama and LSU belong, but Auburn is the wildcard of those three. New QB Jarrett Stidham figures to give the Tigers’ offense a shot in the arm, but the defense will have to replace some key playmakers.
- Of the SEC East contenders, Georgia has the most talent returning and the most upside, and the rankings reflect that. The combination of QB Jacob Eason and RBs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel is the best trio in the division, and the Bulldogs could be a top 10 preseason team.
- Florida and Tennessee are interesting teams to watch. The Gators lose a ton of talent on defense, and desperately need to find a difference-maker at QB. Tennessee loses talent on both sides of the ball, and it could be viewed as somewhat of a rebuilding year in Knoxville. 2016 was Butch Jones’ best chance to win a championship … maybe ever.
- From No. 7 to No. 14, there aren’t any real surprises. 2017 will be a defining season for Bret Bielema at Arkansas, and it’s time his program makes some noise or he could find himself sitting on the hotseat. It’s basically the same script for Kevin Sumlin at Texas A&M, too.
Best chance, maybe ever? It’s like deja vu all over again, they said the same thing when Tennessee didn’t win it all during Peytons senior season. The talent hasn’t been stripped of all of its talent by any means.
I think he was referring to the loss of experience along with the fact that the East is getting tougher. He might have as much talent, but the window might not be as big and it will probably take a year or two to replace the leadership…if he’s given that long.
They said the same thing about Mark Richt and then he was promptly fired. This ain’t the ERA Peyton Manning was in. Almost don’t cut it. This WAS his best shot. The east was down, he had elite talent and experience and still couldn’t cut it. Sounds A LOT like Mark Richt.
How is Ole Miss ahead of Kentucky
Because they would eat you alive. One good win at the end of the season against a collapsing Lousiville team and you start thinking you’re not Kentucky?
Because Ole Miss has 4 and 5 star talent in their lineup and cannot possibly be as bad defensively again this year.
Kentucky, according to ESPN, Has the 25th class right now. Ole miss is #40. Ole Miss is going down hill. If Kentucky continues to improve, dont be shocked when UK is favored over OM this season.
Kentucky has had pretty good recruiting classes since Stoops got there and still hasn’t done much with it.
No pressure for Stidham. None whatsoever…
This is a lazy power ranking. Ole miss, Texas A&M, and Tennessee were all placed where they are based on their name. Not a whole lot of critical thinking or research was done by ESPN here.
Well their names recruit better than teams like Kentucky… So even when they have disappointing seasons, they still can recruit better and rebuild than other teams can (like Kentucky) after one of the best seasons they’ve had in a decade.
Granted it had to be gratifying to beat a ranked Nebraska team but the record shook out the same as 2015 which you guys were disappointed with.
Nebraska wasnr ranked.
I didn’t say anything about Kentucky.
Kentucky is recruiting fine right now. They’re flirting with a top 15 class and getting an immediate game changer in Lynn Bowden. And they’re also returning almost their entire team. I feel pretty good about next year. Florida and Tennessee both lose quite a bit and we have them at home. I think we win 1 of those two and it wouldn’t surprise me if they won both. The schedule overall doesn’t look very daunting. We’ll see, but 9 wins looks like a possibility. I’ve never felt this optimistic about a season before. @arkansas guy: first time head coach who hasn’t even been through a whole recruiting class yet. Things are improving. The talent was non-existent when he got here. It takes more than a couple of good recruiting classes to see results on the field. It takes time. You have to get players, build depth, and instill a winning culture. It is a taller task at a school like Kentucky than it is at other SEC schools.
Why are you complaining Catfan? It’s Basketball season now…you know, where you are Kings? ;-)
I love my football team equally as do most cat fans, despite popular opinion.
Auburn lost their last three games, even a bad UGA team beat them. Now they are #2 in the SEC power rankings? That won’t last past the first or second game.
Someone’s a little worked up over a way to early power ranking.
Notice all the games Auburn lost White was Hurt including the Georgia game. I disagree with u 100 percent. Auburn is going to be a BEAST next year. They have talent as far as Offensive (especially quarterbacks) coming out of their A**!!!! They are definitely going to bring their A game next year! Gonna give Bama some competition!
White was hurt in Auburn’s losses to Clemson and Texas A&M?
I am incorrect, excuse me. Technically Auburn had 3 quarterbacks the Clemson game. White was not fully established as the quarterback then. White was not hurt for the Texas A&M game, u r correct. But main point being, I was saying. Auburn has GREAT POTENTIAL to be one team on top next year. I definitely see Auburn winning more games next year. Including Clemson, Texas A&M and GEORGIA!
That’s still not an excuse. Georgia’s offense was anemic as a Bulldog with cancer, they should have won on defensive prowess alone and DIDN’T.
You can say what you want, but their winning percentage against Georgia the last 10-12 years is laughable. Bush was president the last time they won in Athens, and their last win years ago took a miracle.
It should have been next man up and a beat down of a struggling Georgia team, and it wasn’t.
No one is giving Excuses dude. And I am not talking about the past! Why does everyone liking bringing up the freakin past??? We are talking future! And Auburn is going to be a great team next year. They are going to have one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC period period period!!!
Ok. Let’s talk about the future. Georgia is returning an entire defense with a much improved front seven (elite even) and back end full of upperlcassmen that finally gelled at the tail end of the new regime. The pick six was what beat Auburn, not Georgia’s offense.
Georgia’s weakness this past year was the offensive line, and incoming talent should propel them to elite by the time of the Auburn-Georgia game. With NICK CHUBB AND MICHEL behind a half decent offensive line, hell, in an already crowded backfield, you really think Auburn gets that much better to beat Georgia?
I know I’m bias, but I have to be missing something. And this isn’t a sleight, but maybe you aren’t as familiar with Georgia (and possibly Auburn) as I’m thinking.
You are correct on one thing. No I am not familiar with Georgia at all or the Georgia/Auburn history. I have many ties to Auburn football including season tickets (my inlaws are 100% Auburn everything). As I have watched Auburn over the years this past season (or I should say half way thru the season) they became a new team. Offense with Stidham coming in and Pettway/ Kerryon Johnson…. That’s gonna be a powerhouse alone on offense! And defense well Auburn is loosing some to the Draft but Kevin Steele runs a tight ship on his defensive. To answer your question yes I do think Auburn has a great chance in overcome Georgia this year. Plus home field advantage never hurts. We shall see….
yes a bad UGA team beat a crippled AU team. Nothing for us to be proud of there. However 2017 could very well flip the script. AU fans are really sick of losing to crappy UGA teams.
Maybe you keep losing because you’re a real crappy Auburn team.
Thrilled that LSU gets 8 of the 9 top teams in the SEC in regular season, and perhaps 9 of the top 9 if LSU makes and plays UGA in the SEC-CG.
I think you mean 7 of the top 9 during the regular season, unless LSU plans on playing themselves.
It might not be during the season but TECHNICALLY they do play themselves
Accurate, and I thought about that, but since he specified “regular season” I didn’t think it needed pointing out.
I hate it when UT and LSU plays, cause LSU is my #2 team after UT lol GO VOLS GEAUX TIGERS
I’m guessing you didn’t attend either school, if you can honestly say you have 2 favorite teams.
UGA will finish behind Florida. Kirby Smart can’t handle game day.
You mean like Mac can’t handle signing day? He won’t have that Muschamp D to bail him out much longer.
Nice try ESpam.
Lol..Ga and FL over TN? I dont think so.
Ole miss must be getn a lil respect for being put so high.
Bama in top? Not this yr. Auburn looks better for 2017
But UGA …should have beat TN ? And even though they didn’t, it was a bad year for UGA and they still were competitive in that game? Are we just saying stuff just because we believe it or did you actually put some thought into how the season unfolded and who is returning talent and has a better current recruiting class.
What will y’all do when Bama wins it’s 4th SEC championship in a row?
I don’t know, but it should be a very good game between UGA and Bama.
Under Coach Kirby Smart, UGA will have the best defense in the SEC East, period. There was no mention to that in this thread.
A lot of returning starters and a fully loaded 2017 recruited class of “savages” will prove it.
This is the foundation to build upon in the coming years. It will only get better and improve.
Wolfman’s way too early and way smarter power rankings:
1. Alabama
2. Florida and LSU
3. everybody else depending on how who they sign and how spring + August development goes
*by the 3rd week in Sept. 2017, throw out the above, refer to who is undefeated and looking improved.
** by the 2nd week in Oct. forget about both of the above and refer to who is undefeated and looking improved.
*** repeat the above, every week, and swear an oath to be a real sports journalist and never make predictions again.